Wing to swim or to row

ABSTRACT

A wing to swim or row which includes a sleeve to attach to a member to be manipulated under water in generally fore to aft cycles of movement and an umbrella type collapsible canopy carried by the sleeve and moveable in response to water forces caused by the manipulation between canopy open position and a canopy collapsed position to propel an object through water.

United States Patent [191 Garcia [451 Oct. 21, 1975 WING TO SWIM OR TO ROW [76] Inventor: Onofre S. Garcia, 77 Prospect St.,

Newark, NJ. 07105 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1974 21 App1.No.: 500,921

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 409,277, Oct. 24, 1973,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 115/31; 115/21; 115/24.5 [51] Int. Cl. B63H 1/32; B63l-l 16/04 [58] Field of Search 115/31-33,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,028,093 6/1912 Ahlbrecht 115/31 1,522,526 1/1925 Kuhn 9/302 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 12/1968 France 9/302 648,033 10/1962 Italy 9/302 602,416 3/1960 Italy 9/302 142,712 7/1903 Germany 115/31 Primary ExaminerGeorge E. A. Halvosa Assistant Examiner-Sherman D. Basinger [5 7 ABSTRACT A wing to swim or row which includes a sleeve to attach to a member to be manipulated under water in generally fore to aft cycles of movement and an umbrella type collapsible canopy carried by the sleeve and moveable in response to water forces caused by the manipulation between canopy open position and a canopy collapsed position to propel an object through water. ,1

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent OCL 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,913,516

U.S.'Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,913,516

WING T SWIM on T0 ROW Thisisa continuation in part of an earlier filed U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 409,277, filed Oct. 24, 1973 and now abandoned. l.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for use by a swimmer or oarsman for'propulsion through water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION This invention has as a general object the provision of a wing or umbrella canopy which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is well adapted for use as an attachment to the legs or arms of a swimmer or attachment to a rowing apparatus to be mounted to a boat; and the invention provides a sleeve to receive the member to which it is secured and an attachment means to maintain the sleeve in a predetermined position on the member; and on the sleeve a collapsible umbrella type canopy or wing is secured and supported by pivotal struts and constrained upon movement of the device to movement between an open and a closed position in response to forces exerted upon it by manipulation of the device in water to create propulsion forces through water.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device of the type described which is adapted by reason of its structure and configuration to be used as an attachment for the leg or arm of a swimmer and which includes a glove portion or sock portion to accommodate the hand or foot of the wearer and includes a sleeve of sufficient length to transmit substantial forces of propulsion to the arm or leg in use and which is configured so as not to scrape against the body of a swimmet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rowing apparatus for attachment to a boat which includes the umbrella type under water propulsion improvement.

In accordance with these general objects and other objects which will be apparent from the following description, the invention in three preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS embodiment adapted for attachment to the leg and foot of a wearer;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rowing apparatus utilizing the wing.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment:

The first preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is adapted to be used on a swimmers left arm. A mirror image of the device maybe worn on a swimmers right arm and will not be described further. The device generally designated by the numeral 12 includes a sleeve 14 which is preferably of flexible plastic material or sturdy cloth, such as canvas. It includes means to secure it to the distal end of the arm of a swimmer, such as belts not showns or mating hooks l6 and 18 which are adapted to be tied together. A glove segment 20 may be provided at the very end for passage of a hand. Reinforcing rings 22, 24 and 26 may be provided. To the end of the sleeve a plurality of equispaced struts 28, 30, 32 and 34 are pivotally connected as at 36, 38, 40 and 42; and the struts extend a common distance. The struts are spanned by a canopy 44 of water impervious plyable material, such as plastic, which is in the shape of a segment of a circle as seen from an end view and is suitably secured to form what may be described as a collapsible wing extending outwardly from the sleeve. The canopy may be composed of a plurality of generally triangularly shaped circle segments, as shown, each secured in spanning relation between adjacent struts. Flexible string means of a common length 46, 48, 50 and 52 connect the struts to the sleeve by suitable means, such as staples as at 54, S6, 58 and 60 and 62, 64, 66 and 68 on the sleeve preferably at the reinforced zone 24. In the preferred embodiment one way check valve means such as 70, 72, 74 and 76 may be provided and comprise openings 78, 80, 82 and 84 at predetermined spaced locations of the wing canopy which on the inside surface are covered by patches 86, 88, and 92 which have margins that overlay the margins of the canopy about their respective associated openings. The margins are secured to the canopy at spaced point so that when the wing is pulled toward the elbow through water, the margins will closely overlay one another and not permit water to flow through the openings, but will open when the wing is pushed forwardly through water. Also, when the wing is pushed forwardly the wing will collapse as the struts pivotally approach allignment with the sleeve centerline; and when the wing has completed a forward stroke of a swimming cycle and pulled rearwardly, the canopy by pivotal action of the struts will open in response to the forces exerted by the water to a fully opened position shown in FIG. 1 with the string means being taut and restraining further movement until rearward movement has been completed. A flexible end flap 95 to trap water may be included on the wing.

Second Preferred Embodiment:

The second preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 is adapted to be used on a swimmers foot. It differs from the previously described embodiment in that a partial flexible sock 200 is suitably secured at the distal end 202, which preferably is cutaway at the heel zone 204 and tow zone 206. In operation this embodiment is secured to the foot and used similarly to the description aforesaid. Rather than repeat the numbers and description in all detail with respect to this embodiment, similar parts of the wing corresponding to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by a series of corresponding numbers with a prime designation.

Third Preferred Embodiment:

to accommodate "the elongate mating fore to aft alligned shaft 302 to which it it secured by suitable means such as. the headed. sets of screws 304, 306 and 308, 310. Further it should be noted that the canopy is circular when expanded as seen in an end elevation view instead of a segment of a circle as in the case of the embodiments-of FIGS. ,1 and 2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 so as not to scrape against a swimmers body.

. The apparatus on which the wings are mounted will now be described. A bracket means 312 is secured to the gunnel 314 of a boat 316 for example in clamping engagement between two blocks 318 and 320. A vertically oriented pivot pin 322 extends upwardly and is pivotally connected to the handle stem 324 of an oar type member 326 with a handle 328. An elongate vertical force transmitting means composed of elements 330, 332 and334 extends upwardly from the shaft 302. Preferably each of these elements are bifurcated at their respective lower ends 336, 338 and 340 and pivotally connected in a generally clevis or yoke arrangement to the shaft by pivot pins 342, 344 and 346; and, at their respective upper ends, the same are pivotally connected to a bridging member 348 by pivot pins 350, 352 and 354, the bridging member being fixed by suitable means to the clamp block 320. .In;op eration the oar is manipulated in a fore and aft series, oflcycles to transmit fore and aft movement of the 'sh'aftf 320 and carried wings which collapse and expand beneath the water to propel a boat on which it is installed through the water.

' ln each of the embodiments the canopy when collapsed may be secured in close collapsed relation about theshaft arm or leg, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and'2 by use of the draw string 99.

What is claimed is:

1 A pair of devices for attachment to a member to be manipulated in water to cause forces of propulsion, each device comprising a sleeve having a first end zone and a second end zone and being characterized by a longitudinal centerline, v

a plurality of equi-spaced struts each of a common length and each having a first end and a second end,

pivot means connecting the first end of each strut to the first end zone,

said struts being swingable from a first position of 4 general alignment of said struts with said sleeve and a second position of said struts extending radially outwardly and rearwardly toward said second end zone,

stop means to limit swinging movement of the second end of each of said struts toward said first end zone,

said stop means defining said second position,

said second position being such that each of said struts is oriented atasubstantially common angle of divergence with respect to the centerline of said sleeve and with the second ends being in a substantially common transverse plane with respect to the sleeve centerline and said second ends defining a curved line in said plane of a substantially common radius from said centerline;

a flexible canopy connected to each of said struts and spanning the space between said struts and said sleeve, and

said sleeve being of an axial length greater that the distance between the first end zone and said transverse plane,

means to connect said sleeve to a member, each of said devices being in coaxial spaced relation and facing in a common direction and being characterized by said curved line of each device defining a complete circle in said transverse plane; and an elongate shaft in the sleeve of each device and said means to connect connecting said sleeve to said shaft, said shaft being pivotally connected to a force transmission means extending radially of said shaft.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said curved line defines a sector of a circle.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is of flexible material.

4. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the device includes tie means to hold the struts in said first position when not in use.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the force transmitting means comprises a plurality of elongate force transmitting elements extending a common length in a common direction to terminal ends, a bridging member in parallel spaced of said shaft, and pivot means connecting said termianl ends to said bridging member.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein clamp means are provided on said bridging member for attachment to the gunnel of a boat and an oar, first pivot means is connected to said clamp means and said oar for fore and aft swinging movement of said oar about said first pivot means; and second pivot means are provideo to connect said bridging member to said oar; said second pivot means being outboard of said first pivot means. 

1. A pair of devices for attachment to a member to be manipulated in water to cause forces of propulsion, each device comprising a sleeve having a first end zone and a second end zone and being characterized by a longitudinal centerline, a plurality of equi-spaced struts each of a common length and each having a first end and a second end, pivot means connecting the first end of each strut to the first end zone, said struts being swingable from a first position of general alignment of said struts with said sleeve and a second position of said struts extending radially outwardly and rearwardly toward said second end zone, stop means to limit swinging movement of the second end of each of said struts toward said first end zone, said stop means defining said second position, said second position being such that each of said struts is oriented at a substantially common angle of divergence with respect to the centerline of said sleeve and with the second ends being in a substantially common transverse plane with respect to the sleeve centerline and said second ends defining a curved line in said plane of a substantially common radius from said centerline; a flexible canopy connected to each of said struts and spanning the space between said struts and said sleeve, and said sleeve being of an axial length greater that the distance between the first end zone and said transverse plane, means to connect said sleeve to a member, each of said devices being in coaxial spaced relation and facing in a common direction and being characterized by said curved line of each device defining a complete circle in said transverse plane; and an elongate shaft in the sleeve of each device and said means to connect connecting said sleeve to said shaft, said shaft being pivotally connected to a force transmission means extending radially of said shaft.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said curved line defines a sector of a circle.
 3. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is of flexible material.
 4. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the device includes tie means to hold the struts in said first position when not in use.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the force transmitting means comprises a plurality of elongate force transmitting elements extending a common length in a common direction to terminal ends, a bridging member in parallel spaced of said shaft, and pivot means connecting said termianl ends to said bridging member.
 6. The device as set forth in claim 5 whereiN clamp means are provided on said bridging member for attachment to the gunnel of a boat and an oar, first pivot means is connected to said clamp means and said oar for fore and aft swinging movement of said oar about said first pivot means; and second pivot means are provided to connect said bridging member to said oar; said second pivot means being outboard of said first pivot means. 